Calculation of the moisture concentration field in a multilayered plate

The continuing publication of new studies on the climatic aging of polymers and polymer composites is testimony to the importance of such research. It is generally recognized that moisture is the most aggressive factor in climatic aging. Thus, investigation of moisture absorption and the effect of sorbed moisture on the properties of materials occupies a central place in the complex of problems connected with the climatic stability of materials. The modeling of moisture absorption in multilayered polymers and calculation of the concentration fields in the layer are areas of definite interest, since polymers have moisture-protecting functions in a number of applications (the casings of different hydrological instruments, electronic microcircuitry, many types of cylinders and tanks, etc.). Also, as a first approximation, a laminated flat plate can be regarded as an unit cell when moisture absorption in the transverse direction is modeled by a unidirectionally reinforced fiber composite; calculation of the moisture concentration fields in laminated plates makes it possible to proceed to the solution of problems on fields of internal stresses and warping. The goal of the present investigation is to develop an algorithm and program for calculating moisture concentration fields in a laminated plate. The authors want to then use the program to model moisture absorption in fiber composites.